The Essentials
[bl]A[/bl]n environment of grace must be well equipped. For messes and mistakes, for oops and oh no! For disagreement and confrontation, correction and affirmation. Death and disappointment, life and blessing.
Being a giver of grace isn’t easy, so we must ready ourselves, be equipped and stock up on all that is helpful to making ourselves better conduits of this life giving resource.
Here’s my list of essentials. The must haves for creating and being an environment of grace.
#1 Degreaser
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And all the best of laundry cleaners. These are must haves for the grace seeking mother! So we can graciously receive the sticky greasy fingers that love on us all day. For the yogurt down the shirt and the grass stains on the knees.
#2 A partner in grace.
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Someone to walk closely with you in this way of living. Mine is my husband — the real grace giver in our family — but it can be anyone who encourages you and teaches you in this journey.
#3 A Bible
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The lamp to our feet. The story that lead us forward. The words that teach us. The person who gives us hope that it’s possible to live in grace.
#4 A sister
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A life long of knowing and loving each other. A relationship built on grace.
#5 And if you don’t have a sister (or even if you do), a good friend
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Or two, or three. Community, it’s where faith is lived out and grace takes on flesh.
#6 A quiet place. To go, to pray, to sit, to rest, to walk, to run, to escape, to seek…
#7 Grace for you when you haven’t given it to others
#8 A cozy bed
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To rest your head, to rest your soul each night.
#9 A morning latte
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Or a cup of tea. Or whatever it is you enjoy as you begin your day.
#10 A vocabulary that includes I’m sorry and I forgive you
#11 Promises to stand on, blessings to hope for
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#12 Things in your environment that remind you of places and people of grace
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Reminders of your journey. Images that take you back to those moments when God taught you, shaped you.
#13 People in your life that give you countless opportunities to be a giver of grace! I have five…
